Tutu, << TOO too >>, Desmond (1931-2021), was a South African religious leader and human rights activist. He was a prominent figure in the campaign against apartheid, South Africa’s strict system of racial segregation, which was in place from 1948 to the early 1990’s. Tutu won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his antiapartheid efforts.
Tutu was born on Oct. 7, 1931, in Klerksdorp, South Africa. Early in his career, he worked as a teacher. He became an Anglican deacon in 1960 and a priest in 1961. He taught theology in South Africa from 1967 to 1972. In 1975, Tutu became the first Black person to serve as the Anglican dean of Johannesburg. He became bishop of Lesotho in 1976 and bishop of Johannesburg in 1984. Tutu served as archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996. He was the first Black person to be elected to the post.
From 1995 to 2003, Tutu headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a South African panel that investigated and conducted hearings on suspected human rights abuses of the apartheid era. The commission sought to promote healing, forgiveness, and national unity. 
Tutu was widely recognized for his warmth, compassion, and sense of humor. He wrote a number of books and traveled the world in support of peace, justice, and human rights. Tutu announced his retirement from public life in 2010. He died on Dec. 26, 2021.
